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AARP AARP States Utah Scams & Fraud

Operation: Stop Scams Shredding Event in Orem on May 5

Operation Stop Scams

Would you believe that every 2 seconds, someone’s identity is stolen? And it’s not hard to imagine, given all the data breaches in the news lately. Combating fraud is a priority for AARP Utah and that is why we are participating in AARP's nationwide  Operation :  Stop Scams on May 5 at Mountain View High School in Orem, where we will be holding a free shredding event open to the public of all ages, regardless of AARP membership.

Identity thieves routinely search through dumpsters and trash cans, looking for confidential information.  One way to keep your identity safe is to shred documents containing personal information. This includes bank and credit card statements, tax forms, and medical bills.

“Identity theft is one of the most prevalent types of fraud encountered by people age 50 and over,”  said Alan Ormsby, State Director of AARP Utah.  “By doing something as simple as shredding their documents, Utahns can safeguard their identity along with their hard earned credit rating and retirement savings from unscrupulous thieves.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is still one of  the top three most commonly-reported reported complaints, though many may not realize they have been targeted.  Fortunately, there are steps Utahns can take to try to prevent becoming a victim.

To avoid having your sensitive information compromised,  security experts recommend shredding of the following types of materials:

  • Old documents:  Papers that carry your Social Security number, birth date, signature, account numbers, passwords or PINs.
  • Banking:  Canceled or unused checks.  Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts, once you receive your monthly statements.
  • Credit Cards: Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies.
  • Medical: unneeded medical bills.
  • Investments: Investment account statements.
  • Obsolete ID cards: Expired driver’s licenses, medical insurance cards, and passports.
Operation Stop Scams in Orem will take place from 9:00a.m.--Noon at Mountain View High School, 665 West Center Street, Orem, UT  84057.   Up to ten boxes per person is allowed, but take note, this event is for individuals only--please, no businesses.  No hard drives or other electronic devices will be accepted.


For those consumers who use a home shredder, experts also recommend the use of a micro-cut model.  Tests have shown that the scraps of paper from a straight or cross-cut shredder can be reassembled by identity thieves.  With a micro-cut shredder, the paper is rendered into impossible-to-reassemble debris.

More information on how to keep safe from identity theft fraud, and alerts regarding other types of scams, is available from the  Fraud Watch Network.

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